Mr. Monk and the Big Move

This is my first time writing a Monk fanfic. I've read some of the other Monk fics and I hope that I can do the characters justice. I don't own Monk. If I did, Monk and Natalie would be together. This story is set just after the season six finale.

CHAPTER 1: Mr. Monk is on The Run: Natalie

Natalie knew as soon as Captain Stottlemeyer arrived it was bad news. She had never seen him look so serious or depressed in the three years that she had known him. She feared the worst. She knew it wasn't good simply by the fact that he was wearing his official police uniform.

"No!" Natalie practically screamed at him.

"I'm afraid it's true Natalie. He's dead. I saw, well to be exact, I shot him. I'm very sorry for your loss. Natalie, if there's anything I can do for you just tell me." Capitan Stottlemeyer then stepped into the living room with Lt. Disher right behind him. She walked, in shock and lowered herself onto the couch. Natalie felt completely numb as she began to cry and curled up into the fetal position. She sat, crying for over an hour on the couch. Every time the captain or Randy tried to come near her she would violently twitch and go hysterical until they went away.

'No, this can't be happening again, I can't handle it again. This is just like Mitch all over again, but this isn't the first time that I thought he was dead. It seems like I just found love again and it gets taken away. It's not fair. Why? Why did you leave me Mr. Monk? I can't handle it alone, not again.'

Slowly, Natalie began to gain control of her emotions and sat up.

"You, you guys can leave now. I'll be okay." Natalie told Stottlemeyer and Disher as she walked into her kitchen.

"Natalie, I'm really sorry." Disher replied as he left, closing the door behind him. Natalie picked up her purse and grabbed the keys to Monk's apartment. She scribbled a note to Julie saying she was at Monk's apartment cleaning it up.

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Natalie sat down on the bed, crying again. She felt lost, like her link to the world was gone. She looked at the clock, realizing it was now half past ten at night and she still wasn't finished packing his things up, in fact she still had to start on his bedroom. Natalie was emotionally and physically drained from having to pack away all his things while knowing she would never see him again.

She slowly rose and walked to the closet. Natalie took one of his white shirts off the hanger and unbuttoned it. She went into the bathroom and changed into his shirt. Natalie knew she should go home to Julie but she didn't want to, not couldn't leave his house. She slipped into the bed and pulled the covers around her tightly, inhaling deeply the scent that made up her boss, Adrian Monk. She could faintly smell the shampoo he used and she smelled the sweet scent of the wipes he so frequently needed. As sleep consumed Natalie her last thought was of him. 'I wish I had told him. I love you Adrian Monk.'

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Chapter 1: Mr. Monk is on the Run: Adrian Monk

In Sparks, Nevada

Adrian Monk hated his new apartment. It was nothing like the old one. He didn't have anything from his old house, well he had one thing. A photo that was taken the past Christmas with him, Julie and Natalie. 'Oh Natalie. I hate to leave you behind. I can just imagine your reaction to hearing that I'm dead. I do hope you forgive me when I return. I just hate it here. It's not home. I miss having her beside me, helping me. God I wish I could call her. I hate to say this, but I love her. I'm in love with her. Damn. I'm sorry Trudy, but I love her.'

Monk shook his head, trying to clear his mind. It was almost 2:30 in the morning, he longed to call her like he did so many of his sleepless nights. He had dialed her area code before he realized he couldn't. He needed her to be safe from Sherriff Rollins. He felt tears begin to slide down his face.

"Natalie!" He called out, feeling hopeless. Monk felt his body begin to shake with silent sobs. 'I miss her so much. I've only been gone for days and I can't function without her. I, I really do love her. I'm in love with her. Oh, why couldn't I tell her.'

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I heard someone call my name. At first I thought I was hallucinating, I saw Natalie. But then I smelled her distinctive perfume, mixed with what smelled like, oddly enough my own shampoo. I lifted a barrel to cover my face, but she just called my name again.

"Adrian? I know it's you." She said as she slowly walked towards me.

I was speechless, here was the woman I couldn't stop thinking about, walking towards me. She had a wipe in hand, so I figured she would be doing something she knew I was uncomfortable with, but what I didn't expect. The next thing I knew, Natalie was smothering my face with kisses and then wiping them away. I was frozen in place. Not because I didn't want her to, no, but because I didn't know how to respond to that.

"Na, Natalie. It's really you. It really is. My god. Thank you. I missed you too much." I had regained control of my limbs and I drew her into an embrace. I couldn't explain it, but I felt safe in her arms right then. Just as I had grabbed the wipe from her hand Sherriff Rollins appeared from what seemed like nowhere. And the moment was over.